Refrigerating apparatus and control therefor



Aug. 9, 1932. H. E. wlLLsu-z REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS AND CONTROLTHEREFOR Filed Sept. 6, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. /6 MM a @610 ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1932. H. E. WlLLSlE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND CONTROLTHEREFOR Filed Sept. 6. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuwdoz Patented Aug. 9,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY E. WILLSIE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOIR- TO THE UNION TRUST COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A.CORPORATION OF OHIO REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND CONTROL THEREFORApplication filed September 6, 1927. Serial No. 217,678.

My invention relates to improvements in refrigeration apparatus of theintermittent absorption type, such as in general have been described inpatents issued to me.

The objects of this invention are to provide an intermittent absorptionapparatus adapt ed to operate automatically; and, more particularly toprovide an automatic drain adapted to return liquor from the evaporatorto the still; to provide a control trap attached to and heated by thestill; to provide an absorbing pan within the still; to provide anautomatic control for turning on and off the heat according to thetemperatures in the still and in the evaporator; to provide automaticmeans for purging the apparatus of hydrogen; and to provide anarrangement of parts adapting the apparatus to the cooling of ahousehold refrigerating box. Other objects appear in the description.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view ofthe apparatus; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the float chamberduring the absorption period; Fig. 3, a verticalsection through thefloat chamber during the heating period; Fig. 4, a vertical sectionthrough the purging device Fig. 5, a vertical section through thecontrol trap and still; Fig. 6, a diagrammatic vertical section of theautomatic control; Fig. 7 a similar view of the control in anotherposition; and Fig. 8

" a vertical section, showing another arrange- Gas flames beneath thement of control apparatus. Similar characters refer to similar parts,and pipes are shown by parallel lines.

In the construction iron or steel is used throughout except whereotherwise specified. The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

A A still 10 is filled with aqua ammonia, called liquor, to the level ofthe dotted line S.

still heat the liquor driving ammonia gas and some steam through thepipe 11, the rectifiers 12 and 18 into the control trap 14, then throughthe rectifier 15,

the pipe 16, into the evaporator 17; then.

through the pipe 18 into the condenser 19,

where the ammoma gas 1s liquefied by giving up its heat under pressureto the cooling water in tank 20. Water flows into this tank through pipe21 and out through pipe 22. The rectifier 12 drains into the still andthe rectifiers 13, 15 drain into the control trap 14, filling it withliquor to the level of the dotted line C. Excess liquor drains throughthe pipe 23 into the" float chamber 24 and thence to the still. Bywelding the control trap 14 to the still as shown, the liquor therein isheated and ammonia gas is distilled out of the liquor producing a lessvolatile liquor leg in pipe 11a and to some extent hastening theabsorbing in the still. When heat is removed from the still the liquidammonia in the condenser flows through pipe 18 into the 55 evaporator,vaporizes the gas, and abstracts heat from the refrigerating box 30,indicated by dotted lines. The gas returns through pipe 16 into thecontrol trap 14:, raises a liquor leg seal in pipe 11a, passes into thefloat chamber 24 and thence into the cooling loop 31, setting up acirculation therein of liquor from the still-absorber, thus transferringheat to the cooling water and causing the gas to be absorbed.

Any liquor collecting in the evaporator by rectification or from aprevious operation drains into pipe 25 which is provided with a checkball 26. This check valve prevents liquid from flowing from the pipe 25unless it is go unseated. During the heating period the outflowing gasmust depress liquid from the pipe 11a the depth of the pipe in theliquid in the control trap 14 and consequently fills the float chamberwith liquor to a similar height 35 above the liquor level in the still;as to the level of the dottedline A. The float 27 is' thus raised duringthe heating period and .the rod 28, secured to the top of the float,

cooling loop 31 wlthout passing the return through pipe 23 7o gasthrough the float chamber, and the float drain can be arranged to thusoperate.

An absorbing pan 32 is inverted over the end N of the cooling loop 31 tocatch large bubbles of ammonia gas and to hold them in contact with theliquor until absorbed and to prevent bubbles of gas from passing abovethe liquor level in the still and thus retard absorption. This pan alsocatches any foreign gas returning with the ammonia gas. The result is amore rapid absorption-especially at the beginning of the absorptionperiod. The pan is preferably supported by the still in a way to allowcirculation of liquid about it. The ends of the cooling loop 31 projectsomewhat into the still thereby causing the still to collect slugs thatsome times forms in an absorption apparatus. The rec- .tifiers 12 and 13also hasten the beginning of the absorption by reason of the cooling water contracting the gas in the rectiflers. The

pipes 11, 16, 18, may be located back of the re rigerating box. Thefloat is described in my application having the Serial Number 197,808.The pipe 25 has a horizontal part 25a and a horizontal dead end ofi'setpipe 250 to hold ice freezing trays.

Any foreign gas which forms in the apparatus is mostly hydrogen and thistends to collect in the dead end of the condenser 19. To allow thehydrogen to escape there is provided a hydrogen filter connected by pipe36 to the dead end of the condenser. This filter consists of an ironcase 37 containing a porcelain block 38 which allows the slow passage ofhydrogen gas but is practically tight to the passage of any other gas inthe apparatus. The porcelain block is surrounded on the sides and partlyon the ends by the lead jacket 39. The nut 40 is used to tighten thelead onto the porcelain. A hand valve V is shown in the pipe 36.

Referring to Fig. 6, the control is actuated by a bellows 42 partlyfilled with water or other liquid which vaporizes with pressure at thestill temperature at which the gas is shut off. The bellows is providedwith a spring 43, anadjustingnut 44, and a rod 45. To the rod is secureda fiat spring 46 by the nuts 47. The other end of the spring actuates apivoted lever 48 to which is attached the gas valve 49. The expansionand contraction of this bellows energizes the spring 46. The lever 48 isheld in its two positions by the latch 50 and by the trigger 51 whichare pressed by the spring 52. The trigger 51 is controlled by theratchet wheel 53 which is actuated by the spring 54 and the bellows 55.To the bellows 55 is connected a bulb 56 by the tube 57. The bellows,tube and bulb are completely filled with water or other liquid thatmelts and contracts at the temperature at which the gas is turned on. Toturn on the gas the operation is as follows: The cooling of the stillhas contracted the bellows 42 and thus energized the spring 46 tooperate the lever 48 in the direction of the arrow A to open the gasvalve; but this movement of the lever is prevented by the trigger 51, asshown in Fig. 6. When the evaporator containing the bulb 56 becomes warmenough to melt the ice in the bulb 56 the bellows 55 is contracted andthrough the spring 54 operates the ratchet wheel 53, which releasestrigger 51 from control of the lever 48 allowing the spring 46 to movethe lever 48 to open the gas valve 49. The latch 50 then drops into aposition, shown in Fig. 7 to control movement of the lever 48.

To turn off the gas, the bellows 42 expands from the heat of the stilluntil the adjusting screw a releases the latch from control of the lever48; the spring 46 having been energized by the bellows moves the lever48 in the direction of the arrow B to close the gas valve. The trigger51 then controls the lever 48. The bellows is expanded by liquid in'bulb56 freezing and the spring 54 moved to engage another notch of theratchet wheel.

If the spring 46 should break continued expansion of the bellows 42 willmove the lever 48 in direction of the arrow B closing the gas valve. Gasfrom the burner 60 is ignited by the pilot light 61.

By reversing the ratchet wheel the bellows 55 may be filled with a fluidthe expansion of which actuates the ratchet wheel.

In the form of control shown in Fig. 8 the bellows 42 energizes a flatspring 46a which engages the valve stem 49a. Continued expansion of thebellows releases the latch 50a allowing the valve to close. Trigger 51athen engages the valve stem.

Contraction of the bellows 42 energizes the spring 46a. Expansion of thebellows 55 moves the ratchet wheel 53 releasing the trig ger 51a fromthe valve stem allowing the valve to open. There is suflicient spring inthe bellows 55 to allow its flange 55a to pass over the ratchet teeth.

The size andproportions of the float 27 and its chamber 24, as well asthe length of the rod 28 and the level of-the chamber 24 and float 27relative to the still may be made such as to terminate the drain pastthe valve 26 at any time during the boiling operation. In other words,these parts may be so proportioned and arranged that the ball valve 26will seat at any time during the boiling operation, either a short timeafter it begins or near its close, as will be readily understood.

What I claim is:

1. The combination in a. refrigeration apparatus of a still-absorber,evaporator and condenser connected in an operative cycle, a floatchamber, a pipe connected to the bottom of the evaporator and to thefloat chamber, a pipe connecting the float chamber to thestill-absorber, a check valve in the pipe connecting the evaporator tothe float chamber, and a float within the float chamber arranged tounseat the check valve during the heating period.

2. The combination in a refrigeration apparatus of a still-absorber,evaporator and condenser connected in an operative cycle, a floatchamber, a drain pipe connected to the bottom of the evaporator and tothe float chamber, a check valve in said pipe, a pipe connecting thefloat chamber to the still-absorber, a return gas pipe connecting thefloat chamber toward the evaporator, and a float within the floatchamber arranged to unseat the check valve during the heating period.

3. In arefrigeration apparatus of the absorption type embodying astill-absorber and an evaporator, the combination of a heat controlcomprising a fluid filled bellows expanding according to the temperatureof the stillabsorber, a spring energized by the expansion of saidbellows, a lever actuated by said spring and controlling the heatsupply, a

trigger and a latch controlling the movement of the lever, a ratchetwheel controlling the movement of the trigger, and a liquid filledbellows expanding and contracting according to the temperature of theevaporator arranged to actuate the ratchet wheel.

4. In a refrigeration apparatus of the absorption type embodying astill-absorber and an evaporator, the combination of a heat controlcomprising a fluid filled bellows expanding according to the temperatureof the stillabsorber, a spring energized by the ex ansion of saidbellows, a member actuated y said spring and controlling the heatsupply, means controlling the movement of said member including aratchet wheel, and a liquid filled bellows expanding and contractingaccording to the temperature of the evaporator arranged to actuate theratchet wheel.

5. The combination in a refrigeration apparatus of a still-absorber,evaporator and condenser connected in an operative cycle, means foralternately heating and cooling the still-absorber, a pipe arranged todrain the evaporator toward the still-absorber, means adapted to closesaid pipe against flow of liquid from the evaporator, and a floatarranged to open said means to the flow of liquid during the heatingperiod.

6. In a refrigeration apparatus of the absorption type, a filter caseconnected at one end to the apparatus and at the other end opening tothe atmosphere, and a filter block permeable to hydrogen within thefilter case.

7. In a refrigeration apparatus of the absorption type, a filter caseconnected at one signature.

HENRY E. WILLSIE.

end to the apparatus and at the other end. 7

opening outside the apparatus, and a orcelain block permeable tohydrogen within the filter case.

